Surface Modification of Aluminum Nitride to Fabricate Thermally Conductive poly(Butylene Succinate) Nanocomposite

Evaluation of thermal conductivity models and dielectric properties in metal oxide-filled poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) composites

This study examines how various nanofillers impact thermal conductivity, dielectric characteristics, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding potential of bio-based and biodegradable poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA). TiO2, NiFe2O4, Fe2O3, and Fe3O4 were selected as fillers for nanocomposites at 4-50 vol.% (12-81 wt.%). The nanocomposites were analyzed in three domains: structural (scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping, density, tensile testing), thermal (light flash analysis, literature models), and dielectric (AC conductivity, permittivity, EM shielding effectiveness (SE)). The investigated fillers showed good dispersion and compatibility with the PBSA matrix. LFA was analyzed according to literature models, where Bruggeman and Agari models showed the best fit at high concentrations. The dielectric analysis revealed that most of the nanocomposites did not reach percolation; thus, producing thermally conductive plastics that are electrically insulating. EMI shielding was limited to frequencies below 10 Hz, with the notable exception of Fe3O4 (100 nm and loading of > 25 vol.%), which showed shielding at frequencies up to 105 Hz. The investigated composites based on a biodegradable polyester and abundant metal oxide nanofillers are suitable for the production of cheap, ecological, and electrically insulating heat dissipation solutions required for modern and lightweight applications.

Review of sustainable, eco-friendly, and conductive polymer nanocomposites for electronic and thermal applications: current status and future prospects

Biodegradable polymer nanocomposites (BPNCs) are advanced materials that have gained significant attention over the past 20 years due to their advantages over conventional polymers. BPNCs are eco-friendly, cost-effective, contamination-resistant, and tailorable for specific applications. Nevertheless, their usage is limited due to their unsatisfactory physical and mechanical properties. To improve these properties, nanofillers are incorporated into natural polymer matrices, to enhance mechanical durability, biodegradability, electrical conductivity, dielectric, and thermal properties. Despite the significant advances in the development of BPNCs over the last decades, our understanding of their dielectric, thermal, and electrical conductivity is still far from complete. This review paper aims to provide comprehensive insights into the fundamental principles behind these properties, the main synthesis, and characterization methods, and their functionality and performance. Moreover, the role of nanofillers in strength, permeability, thermal stability, biodegradability, heat transport, and electrical conductivity is discussed. Additionally, the paper explores the applications, challenges, and opportunities of BPNCs for electronic devices, thermal management, and food packaging. Finally, this paper highlights the benefits of BPNCs as biodegradable and biodecomposable functional materials to replace traditional plastics. Finally, the contemporary industrial advances based on an overview of the main stakeholders and recently commercialized products are addressed.

Hypergravity-Induced Accumulation: A New, Efficient, and Simple Strategy to Improve the Thermal Conductivity of Boron Nitride Filled Polymer Composites

Thermal conductive polymer composites (filled type) consisting of thermal conductive fillers and a polymer matrix have been widely used in a range of areas. More than 10 strategies have been developed to improve the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. Here we report a new "hypergravity accumulation" strategy. Raw material mixtures of boron nitride/silicone rubber composites were treated in hypergravity fields (800-20,000 g, relative gravity acceleration) before heat-curing. A series of comparison studies were made. It was found that hypergravity treatments could efficiently improve the microstructures and thermal conductivity of the composites. When the hypergravity was about 20,000 g (relative gravity acceleration), the obtained spherical boron nitride/silicone rubber composites had highly compacted microstructures and high and isotropic thermal conductivity. The highest thermal conductivity reached 4.0 W/mK. Thermal interface application study showed that the composites could help to decrease the temperature on a light-emitting diode (LED) chip by 5 °C. The mechanism of the improved microstructure increased thermal conductivity, and the high viscosity problem in the preparation of boron nitride/silicone rubber composites, and the advantages and disadvantages of the hypergravity accumulation strategy, were discussed. Overall, this work has provided a new, efficient, and simple strategy to improve the thermal conductivity of boron nitride/silicone rubber and other polymer composites (filled type).

Achieving a 3D Thermally Conductive while Electrically Insulating Network in Polybenzoxazine with a Novel Hybrid Filler Composed of Boron Nitride and Carbon Nanotubes

To solve the problem of excessive heat accumulation in the electronic packaging field, a novel series of hybrid filler (BN@CNT) with a hierarchical “line-plane” structure was assembled via a condensation reaction between functional boron nitride(f-BN) and acid treated carbon nanotubes (a-CNTs). The reactions with different mass ratios of BN and CNTs and the effect of the obtained hybrid filler on the composites’ thermal conductivity were studied. According to the results, BN@15CNT exhibited better effects on promoting thermal conductivity of polybenzoxazine(PBz) composites which were prepared via ball milling and hot compression. The thermally conductive coefficient value of PBz composites, which were loaded with 25 wt% of BN@15CNT hybrid fillers, reached 0.794 W· m⁻¹· K⁻¹. The coefficient value was improved to 0.865 W· m⁻¹· K⁻¹ with 15 wt% of BN@15CNT and 10 wt% of BN. Although CNTs were adopted, the PBz composites maintained insulation. Dielectric properties and thermal stability of the composites were also studied. In addition, different thermal conduction models were used to manifest the mechanism of BN@CNT hybrid fillers in enhancing thermal conductivity of PBz composites.

The relationship of structure, thermal and water vapor permeability barrier properties of poly(butylene succinate)/organomodified beidellite clay bionanocomposites prepared by in situ polycondensation

The exploitation of beidellite clay (BDT), used as a nanofiller in the preparation of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)/organoclay biodegradable nanocomposites, was investigated. A series of bionanocomposites with various loadings of the organoclay (3CTA-BDT) were prepared by in situ polycondensation reaction between succinic anhydride (SuAh) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) at atmospheric pressure in refluxing decalin with azeotropic removal of water, and the reaction was catalyzed by non-toxic bismuth chloride (BiCl3). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that 3CTA-BDT was likely exfoliated and well dispersed in PBS matrix. Thermal properties (TGA, DSC and thermal conductivity), contact angle measurements and water vapor sorption behavior of the corresponding nanocomposites were also discussed. Compared to pure PBS, a significant reduction of the diffusion coefficient and the water vapor permeability (WVP) by 44 and 37%, respectively, was observed by adding only 5 wt% of 3CTA-BDT. These results could make these bionanocomposites suitable materials for food packaging application.

Polydopamine-Modified Al2O3/Polyurethane Composites with Largely Improved Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Alumina/polyurethane composites were prepared via in situ polymerization and used as thermal interface materials (TIMs). The surface of alumina particles was modified using polydopamine (PDA) and then evaluated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and Raman spectroscopy (Raman). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that PDA-Al2O3 has better dispersion in a polyurethane (PU) matrix than Al2O3. Compared with pure PU, the 30 wt% PDA-Al2O3/PU had 95% more Young's modulus, 128% more tensile strength, and 76% more elongation at break than the pure PU. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results showed that the storage modulus of the 30 wt% PDA-Al2O3/PU composite improved, and the glass transition temperature (Tg) shifted to higher temperatures. The thermal conductivity of the 30 wt% PDA-Al2O3/PU composite increased by 138%. Therefore, the results showed that the prepared PDA-coated alumina can simultaneously improve both the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of PU.

Thermomechanical Properties of SiC-Filled Polybutylene Succinate Composite Fabricated via Melt Extrusion

Polybutylene succinate (PBS) composites filled with various mass fractions of silicon carbide (SiC) particles were fabricated via slow melt extrusion. The morphological analysis revealed that the fabrication technique assisted in achieving a good adhesion between the PBS and SiC, along with excellent filler dispersion throughout the PBS matrix. The inclusion of 40 wt.% SiC in the PBS composite afforded a 10 °C increase in the thermal degradation temperature and a 160% enhancement in the thermal conductivity relative to the neat PBS. The crystallization temperature also increased with the inclusion of SiC particles, thus making the composites easier to process. Furthermore, the improvement in the Young's modulus of the PBS composites increased their rigidity and stiffness relative to the neat PBS.

Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethane-/Silane-Modified Al2O3 Composite Fabricated via Melt Compounding

The increase of miniaturization and rise of powerhouses has caused a need for high-performing thermal interface materials (TIMs) that can transfer heat in electronic packaging. In this study, a thermoplastic polyurethane (PU)/alumina composite was produced via twin extrusion and was suggested as a TIM. The surfaces of the alumina particles were modified by γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and then evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images revealed that the addition of surface-modified alumina was well adhered in the PU matrix. The tensile strength of the composite remained unchanged, while the Young's modulus showed improvement as compared to the pure PU. The elongation at the break decreased as the filler loading increased, due to the brittle behavior of the composite. The viscoelastic elastic property analysis results revealed that there was an increase in the storage modulus of the composite and the glass transition temperature curve shifted to the right. The thermal conductivity of the composite showed that there was an 80.6% improvement in thermal conductivity with the incorporation of 40% APTES-treated alumina particles.

Nonisothermal Crystallization of Surface-Treated Alumina and Aluminum Nitride-Filled Polylactic Acid Hybrid Composites

This work investigates the nonisothermal crystallization and melting behavior of polylactic acid (PLA), filled with treated and untreated alumina and nano-aluminum nitride hybrid composites. Analysis by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the treated fillers and the PLA matrix developed a good interaction. The crystallization and melting behaviors of the PLA hybrid composites were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry showed that the degree of crystallinity increased with the addition of hybrid fillers. Unlike the untreated PLA composites, the complete crystallization of the treated PLA hybrid composites hindered cold crystallization during the second heating cycle. The crystallization kinetics studied using the Avrami model indicated that the crystallization rate of PLA was affected by the inclusion of filler particles. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed crystal formation with the incorporation of filler particles. The inclusion of nano-aluminum nitride (AlN) and the increase in the crystallinity led to an improvement of the storage modulus.

In situ formation of PLA-grafted alkoxysilanes for toughening a biodegradable PLA stereocomplex thin film

Current work provides a synergistic approach to prepare super tough PLA without any significant loss of its excellent intrinsic mechanical properties.